SASKATOON — The province’s independent police watchdog is investigating after a Saskatoon police officer shot a 25-year-old man during an hours-long standoff that started with a mental health call.
Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) said it was notified by Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) at about 12:29 a.m. on Dec. 20 that an officer-involved shooting had just occurred during an ongoing incident in Saskatoon.
According to SIRT, the incident started the previous day, Friday, Dec. 19, when SPS received information about a man experiencing mental health concerns and alleged threats to cause death or bodily harm. At about 4:12 p.m. that d ay, police were dispatched to a home in the 1500 block of Rayner Avenue in the city’s Sutherland neighbourhood.
Officers contained the location and attempted to negotiate with the man inside, who refused to come out. Over the next several hours, police negotiators and members of the SPS Tactical Support Unit (TSU) were deployed to the scene. Despite obtaining a warrant to enter the home by 10:10 p.m., police continued attempts at a peaceful resolution.
The situation escalated just before midnight. At about 11:41 p.m., the man partially emerged from the home. SIRT said a confrontation ensued, during which one TSU officer shot “several rounds” from his service firearm, striking the man.
Despite being struck, the man remained in the residence and refused to exit.
At approximately 1:58 a.m., SPS members entered the residence and at approximately 2:09 a.m., the man was taken into custody. During the process of taking the man into custody, several less-lethal devices were used.
Officers provided immediate first aid, and Emergency Medical Services took the man to a Saskatoon hospital. He remains in stable condition.
Following protocol, SPS notified SIRT of the shooting right away. After the notification, a SIRT team consisting of the Civilian Executive Director and seven SIRT investigators was deployed to commence the investigation. SIRT says its investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man's arrest.
SPS will maintain responsibility for the investigation of the original complaint as well as the man's actions during the incident.
Several knives were recovered from the incident scene and have been secured as exhibits for both the SIRT and SPS investigations.
SIRT says no further information will be released at this time. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.
SIRT's mandate is to investigate alleged cases of serious injury, death, sexual assault or interpersonal violence arising from the actions or omissions of on and off-duty police officers, or while an individual is in police custody.
